UEFA announced a boycott of FIFA tournaments due to Infantino's plans to sell a share of the World Cup

All members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) intend to boycott tournaments hosted by the International Football Federation (FIFA) due to the desire of its head Gianni Infantino to sell to private investors some minority stakes related to the rights to tournaments, including the World Cup. This was announced on the UEFA website on July 30.

"UEFA and its 55 member associations stand together. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA's proposal to transfer shares in the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments to private investors. <...> As a result of today's discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in FIFA competitions," the statement said.

The Union urged not to doubt their intention to defend their own interests and resist Infantino's plans, which "have no place in world football." The idea of the head of FIFA, as explained, is aimed at maximizing financial benefits and was initially discussed in secret from other industry representatives.

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Infantino's plans to attract private investors to finance the organization by selling them its rights to tournaments became known on July 28. At the same time, information appeared about the launch of a consultation process for the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which should combine the commercial rights of the organization — broadcasting, sponsorship, ticket sales and licensing — with operational activities for tournaments.